EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball opened its regular-season finale series against Lindenwood University with an 8-4 win on Thursday night at USI Baseball Field. USI moved to 26-26 overall and 9-16 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
The Lions opened the scoring quickly, going up 2-0 after the first inning. However, the Screaming Eagles managed to answer right away with a two-run second inning after junior infielder
Zion Stephens put the ball in play and reached on a fielder's choice to drive in junior
Drue Saenz, and then senior infielder
Clayton Slack came around to score on a throwing error on the play to tie it up.
Lindenwood took a one-run advantage in the third frame, 3-2, which held until the bottom of the fifth inning when senior catcher
Micajah Wall scored senior first baseman
Patrick McLellan to knot the game up at three.
After the Screaming Eagles' bullpen stranded five Lindenwood runners on base between the fourth and sixth innings, junior
Collin Senior pinch hit in the bottom of the sixth and drove in the go-ahead run to give USI a 4-3 lead on an RBI single.
USI broke the lead open with a four-run seventh inning, which was highlighted by a bases-clearing double by junior infielder
Parker Martin. Senior and the Eagles tacked on one more run to take an 8-3 advantage into the final frames.
Lindenwood got one run back in the top of the ninth before the Screaming Eagles closed out the ballgame.
USI scored its eight runs off 11 hits, while Lindenwood tallied its four runs off 10 hits.
Martin led the USI offense, going 2-3 with three RBIs and three runs. Stephens and Senior each collected a pair of RBIs. Wall went 2-4 with an RBI.
On the mound, junior hurler
Ryan Weller got the start for the Eagles, pitching three innings allowing three runs but only two were earned. The bullpen settled the game down for USI, as senior pitcher
Andres Gonzales was the first on in relief and threw 2.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.. Getting the win was sophomore
Caydon Laird (2-1), throwing a third of an inning. Freshman pitcher
Levin East finished out the game for the Eagles, tossing the final three innings for his first save.
Lindenwood starting pitcher Josh Newell took a no-decision, going five innings with three runs - one earned - allowed. Aaron Jungers (6-1) suffered the loss in middle relief, surrendering five runs in 1.1 innings.
With the win, the Eagles claim the eighth spot in the OVC standings, moving past Western Illinois University, which moved to 8-17 in OVC play with their loss to Eastern Illinois University this afternoon.
Up Next for the Screaming Eagles:
The Screaming Eagles and the Lions continue the three-game series on Friday at 5 p.m., with the series finale scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday for Senior Day.
Fans can follow USI Athletics on Facebook, Instagram, and X, as well as online at usiscreamingeagles.com for any schedule changes due to weather. Links to follow the Screaming Eagles during 2026 can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com and the USI Baseball Schedule.
